Carrick face relegation for ban breach

In a shock twist to the relegation battle, the Antrim side could face a points deduction

Carrick Rangers are facing the possibility of relegation only a week after securing their top flight status.

The Taylor's Avenue side - who dramatically won a pulsating encounter against Ballinamallard in the dying moments - could face a three-point deduction for manager Gary Haveron breaching a touchline ban.

Haveron was dismissed in the club's thrilling 4-3 victory over Crusaders, and sat out the three subsequent matches - Glentoran, Ballymena United and Portadown.

However, it now transpires that the ban did not apply to the Ballymena United game but instead to the club's game at Dungannon Swifts, which they won 3-1.

The automatic punishment for this breach is a points deduction, which would seemingly spare Ballinamallard of a play-off and reprieve Warrenpoint Town of automatic relegation, and thus place them in a promotion/relegation play-off with Institute.

The Mallards won 2-1 at Stute in the first leg of this scheduled game on Friday night.

It's now up to the decision makers whether Carrick are punished with a points deduction, and therefore relegation, for what is thought to be a misunderstanding.